Honda 919. I'm driving it 'til it dies. Typical Honda durability; I'll probably go before it does.
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NBD - Road-worn Precision Bass surprise
- Thread starter PNW Tony
- Start date
That brown pickguard really makes that color work. Very nice. I expect mine is not going to go anywhere, either.
I still have a Honda V65 in the garage amongst 3 other bikes. I'm sure it will outlast me! Careful, no one's watching for us. They don't put blinkers on vehicles now.
I really like the look of many of the roadworn and relic'd instruments but rarely see them in the flesh here in New Zealand.
It does make me laugh when I see them for sale described as "pristine condition" or "perfect condition, no knocks or dings"..... how can you tell?
It does make me laugh when I see them for sale described as "pristine condition" or "perfect condition, no knocks or dings"..... how can you tell?
D
Yeah, the Road Worns are something special. I totally agree. They are some of the best Fenders ever made. The only Fender series I personally think are objectively better are the original AVRI series. But I'm mostly a P-bass player, and the "vintage correct" AVRI P-bass necks are a little bit wide for my hands. So as far as Fenders go, the Road Worns might just be the best ever made for MY preferences. I would rather have a Road Worn than ANY currently made Fender production model (even though I'm generally not a fan of relic'ed instruments).
Sadly, I don't actually own a Road Worn myself, but I get to play them from time to time at the workshop, when customers bring them in for a service. Every time this happens, I WANT one.
The Road Worn P bass has the same 1.75" nut the AVRI used to have. And a non-slim profile as well.Yeah, the Road Worns are something special. I totally agree. They are some of the best Fenders ever made. The only Fender series I personally think are objectively better are the original AVRI series. But I'm mostly a P-bass player, and the "vintage correct" AVRI P-bass necks are a little bit wide for my hands. So as far as Fenders go, the Road Worns might just be the best ever made for MY preferences. I would rather have a Road Worn than ANY currently made Fender production model (even though I'm generally not a fan of relic'ed instruments).
Sadly, I don't actually own a Road Worn myself, but I get to play them from time to time at the workshop, when customers bring them in for a service. Every time this happens, I WANT one.
Today the Vintera and Vintera II are the only P basses in the catalog with that OG nut width as the AVII are only 1.7".
D
Ah, of course, you're right. Almost every RoadWorn I've played has been a J-bass so I forgot about the P-bass nut width. They're still great basses though.
i like every one i've ever played. they don't just look worn in, they feel it. like your favorite jeans.
I did not know about the body thickness of the RWs. I should really thin the herd, by 20 or more, but now I can't help thinking I should keep my eye out for one of those early RWs.One thing is that the bodies are thinner than a standard P or J - more like a '60s vintage P or J were. Not sure what wood was used - possibly basswood which is a resonant tone wood and light. Being that it is generally softer & dents easier - again, on a 'road-worn' body such is right at home.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,030
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
If I didn't already own a few killer J's - I'd have one now.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,030
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yes, that's very true. A big part of it is the satin finish on the body & neck, and the thinner/lighter body.
One thing is that the bodies are thinner than a standard P or J - more like a '60s vintage P or J were. Not sure what wood was used - possibly basswood which is a resonant tone wood and light. Being that it is generally softer & dents easier - again, on a 'road-worn' body such is right at home.
The wood used on my 3 RW instruments: alder for the '60s Jazz Bass and Strat, ash for the '50s Tele.
I believe the RW bodies, if that is what you referring to, are Alder for the 60s renditions.One thing is that the bodies are thinner than a standard P or J - more like a '60s vintage P or J were. Not sure what wood was used - possibly basswood which is a resonant tone wood and light. Being that it is generally softer & dents easier - again, on a 'road-worn' body such is right at home.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,030
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Light-weight alder for sure - I've encountered very heavy alder on Fender basses. Ash also, but depending on the strain ash can be lighter in weight.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
I have the same one same year. I love it. I had to replace the neck recently due to a cracked headstock but I still love it. 
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,030
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I like your creative effort.
The whole "relic" technique for guitars evolved from decades old Decorative Arts related to interior design/furniture.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,030
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
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I always believed this to be true based on hearing it so much, but I have owned two RW P’s, one made in ‘08 and the one pictured in post #14 of this thread, which was made in 2017, and the newer one is clearly the better instrument. I wasn’t really shopping for a bass to replace the ‘08, but I happened upon the 2017 a couple of years ago and was immediately struck by how great it played. The price was right so I couldn’t pass it up.
The issues with the ‘08: It had some dead spots and wolf tones, the E string was not very authoritative, and it just didn’t have much presence. I’m guessing it was mostly a case of poor resonance between the neck and body, which you do find even on some pre-CBS “dogs.” The 2017 is one of the most even-playing P-basses I’ve ever come across, much more so than my ‘62 P. It also has excellent string-to-string balance and a dead straight neck. It weighs almost exactly the same as the ‘08, just a tick over 9 lbs.
I agree that the relic process on the Road Worn series is cheesy - but not nearly as bad as the mid 2000’s Gibson Faded series instruments, which look like they came out of a middle school shop class with a plentiful supply of sandpaper. In the plus column for the RW relic jobs: thin finishes that I don’t have to worry about beating up - more wear actually makes them look cooler.
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